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Dive into the research topics where Tuoqi Wu is active.

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Featured researches published by Tuoqi Wu.


Angewandte Chemie | 2013

A UV-Blocking Polymer Shell Prevents One-Photon Photoreactions while Allowing Multi-Photon Processes in Encapsulated Upconverting Nanoparticles†

Tuoqi Wu; Madeleine Barker; Khaled M. Arafeh; John-Christopher Boyer; Carl-Johan Carling; Neil R. Branda

Sun block for nanoparticles: Unintentional photorelease triggered by UV light is a problem in photodynamic therapy. Encapsulating upconverting nanoparticles containing photoswitches in a UV-blocking amphiphilic polymer shuts down the one-photon process and only allows two-photon-driven photochemistry. Thus, UV light is blocked while NIR light can reach the nanoparticle core and trigger photorelease.


Angewandte Chemie | 2012

Reporting the Release of Caged Species by a Combination of Two Sequential Photoreactions, a Molecular Switch, and One Color of Light†

Tuoqi Wu; Hao Tang; Cornelia Bohne; Neil R. Branda

In the right light: UV light triggers bond breaking, liberates a caged carboxylic acid, and generates the central C=C double bond in the photoresponsive hexatriene molecule of a dithienylethene molecular switch. Light of the same wavelength converts the colorless isomer into its colored counterpart in a visually convenient method to report on the success of the release event.


ACS Omega | 2018

Probing the Microenvironments in a Polymer-Wrapped Core–Shell Nanoassembly Using Pyrene Chromophores

Tuoqi Wu; Jessy Oake; Zhongde Liu; Cornelia Bohne; Neil R. Branda

The local environments within an amphiphilic polymer shell wrapped around lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles were probed using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. Emission lifetime measurements of pyrene chromophores trapped within the polymer shell reveal that there are at least two environments, where the organic pyrene molecules are encapsulated in hydrophobic environments that have lower polarity than in water. The migration of pyrene chromophores from their initial location to another location was also observed, demonstrating that the polymeric shell provides both hydrophobicity and mobility for entrapped molecules. These results offer insight into what outcomes can be expected when chemical reactions are carried out in these nanoassemblies, especially if they are to be used as nanoreactors for synthesis or delivery vehicles for therapeutics.


Journal of Visualized Experiments | 2015

A 'Plug and Play' Method to Create Water-dispersible Nanoassemblies Containing an Amphiphilic Polymer, Organic Dyes and Upconverting Nanoparticles

Khaled M. Arafeh; Amir Mahmoud Asadirad; Jason Woodson Li; Danielle Wilson; Tuoqi Wu; Neil R. Branda

In this protocol, we first describe a procedure to synthesize lanthanide doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs). We then demonstrate how to generate amphiphilic polymers in situ, and describe a protocol to encapsulate the prepared UCNPs and different organic dye molecules (porphyrins and diarylethenes) using polymer shells to form stable water-dispersible nanoassemblies. The nanoassembly samples containing both the UCNPs and the diarylethene organic dyes have interesting photochemical and photophysical properties. Upon 365 nm UV irradiation, the diarylethene group undergoes a visual color change. When the samples are irradiated with visible light of another specific wavelength, the color fades and the samples return to the initial colorless state. The samples also emit visible light from the UCNPs upon irradiation with 980 nm near-infrared light. The emission intensity of the samples can be tuned through alternate irradiation with UV and visible light. Modulation of fluorescence can be performed for many cycles without observable degradation of the samples. This versatile encapsulation procedure allows for the transfer of hydrophobic molecules and nanoparticles from an organic solvent to an aqueous medium. The polymer helps to maintain a lipid-like microenvironment for the organic molecules to aid in preservation of their photochemical behavior in water. Thus this method is ideal to prepare water-dispersible photoresponsive systems. The use of near-infrared light to activate upconverting nanoparticles allows for lower energy light to be used to activate photoreactions instead of more harmful ultraviolet light.


Chemical Communications | 2011

A ‘chemically-gated’ photoresponsive compound as a visible detector for organophosphorus nerve agents

Farahnaz Nourmohammadian; Tuoqi Wu; Neil R. Branda


Chemistry of Materials | 2013

A “Plug-and-Play” Method to Prepare Water-Soluble Photoresponsive Encapsulated Upconverting Nanoparticles Containing Hydrophobic Molecular Switches

Tuoqi Wu; John-Christopher Boyer; Madeleine Barker; Danielle Wilson; Neil R. Branda


Chemistry of Materials | 2014

Fluorescent Quenching of Lanthanide-Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles by Photoresponsive Polymer Shells

Tuoqi Wu; Danielle Wilson; Neil R. Branda


Nanoscale | 2015

Two-colour fluorescent imaging in organisms using self-assembled nano-systems of upconverting nanoparticles and molecular switches.

Tuoqi Wu; Bob Johnsen; Zhaozhao Qin; Masakazu Morimoto; David L. Baillie; Masahiro Irie; Neil R. Branda


Chemical Communications | 2016

Using low-energy near infrared light and upconverting nanoparticles to trigger photoreactions within supramolecular assemblies

Tuoqi Wu; Neil R. Branda


Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry | 2015

Energy transfer between amphiphilic porphyrin polymer shells and upconverting nanoparticle cores in water-dispersible nano-assemblies

Tuoqi Wu; S. Kaur; Neil R. Branda

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Hao Tang

University of Victoria

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Bob Johnsen

Simon Fraser University

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